Press box locking mechanism



PRESS BOX LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 21, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1 I H M Y Y jg X wu cum Slim/MA;

Oct. 29, 1940.

J. BLEWETT PRESS BOX LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 21, 1957' g M J25 .57

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 {/j/ //////////V///// ////m gimme whom Oct. 29, 1940. J. BLEWETT 2,219,586

PRESS BOX LOCKING MECHANISM Fiied Aug. 21, 1937 a Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,219,586 PRESS BOX LOCKING MECHANISM John Blewett, Dallas, Tex.,

assignor to The Murray Company, Dallas, Tex., a. corporation of Texas Application August 21, 1937, Serial No. 160,259

10 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in press box locking mechanism.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for looking a cotton press box in position during the tamping and baling operation.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved locking mechanism of a simplified construction which is arranged so that it cannot be unlocked while the tramper is operating, whereby the press box can undergo movement only when the tramper is not operating; the mechanism also being such that the tramper cannot be operated unless the press box is in its locked position in proper alinement therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism of the character described'wherein the locking of the boxoccurs automatically when the press box moves into its proper position, and means adapted to be actuated by the foot to release the locking means, whereby the unlocking of the box is facilitated and the operators hands are free to perform other duties.

Still another object of the invention'is to provide an improved locking mechanism for press boxes which is simple in construction and includes a minimum number of parts, the mechanism being positive in its operation and requiring no adjustments, as well as being readily applicable to any ordinary press box of the usual construction.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and

wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press box, having a locking mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, attached thereto,

Figure 2 is a partial front elevation with a portion of the frame broken away to show the latching means,

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical, sectional view showing the locking plunger in its engaged position,

Figure 4 is a similar view with said plunger in its unlocked position,

Figure 5 is a horizontal, cross-sectional-view, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is an isometric view showing a portion of the linkage for operating the mechanism,

Figure '7 is an isometric view of block,

Figure 8 is a front tion of the press box frame,

the keeper elevation of the upper porillustrating the shifter and brake assembly, 5

Figure 9 is an enlarged front elevation of said assembly, I

Figure 10 is a side elevation of said assembly, and

Figure 11 is a transverse, vertical, sectional 10 view, taken on the line ll-| t of Figure 9.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a vertical standard which has a platform or floor It bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The I standard forms the main supporting structure of 15 'a cotton press box assembly. A press box IE is mounted to undergo rotation and is located above the platform H. As is well known, the usual press box assembly includes two boxes which are secured together and are rotatable on a central vertical post or shaft (not shown). The cotton tramper (not shown) is adapted tomove downwardly within one box, while the usual press ram (not shown) moves within the other box, where'- by cotton is tamped in one box while being com- 25 pressed into a bale in the other box. As each bale is completed, it is removed from the press box and the boxes are then rotated so that the tamped cotton is moved into alinement with the press ram while the box just emptied is moved J3 beneath the tramper. Cotton is then fed into the empty box and the tramper operated while the press is again operated at the same'time to compress the cotton which has been tramped upon the previous operation. The above method 35 of baling cotton is common practice at the present time and forms no part of the present invention.

From the ab0ve,it will be seen thateach time the boxes are rotated, they must be exactly alined .4 with the tramper and with the press ram. Also,

'it is essential that they be firmly locked in this alined position so as to prevent any accidental movement of the boxes while said tramper and ram are operating. The box I2 is mounted in the usual frame l2 which is constructed of angle members which are bolted or otherwise secured together. The frame is, of course, rotatable with the boxes since said boxes are securedtherein.

For holding the box l2 in its alined position, 5 a keeper member or block Ais secured to the lower end of the vertical end member of the box frame I2. This member or block, as is clearly shown in Figure 7, includes an upwardly extend- .ing flange l-3 through which bolts l4 extend. The "55 bolts also pass through the end member of the frame I 2' (Figure 3) and receive nuts M on their outer ends to securely fasten the block A to the frame l2. A recess 56 which is substantially square in shape is formed in the outer face of said block. The recess extends from the top of the block A and terminates short of the bottom of said block. The sides of the block are bevelled inwardly toward the recess as shown at I? in Figures 5 and '7, while a triangular shaped rib or lug I8 is preferably formed integral with the flange l3 and overlies the central portion of the recess It. The top of said rib is bevelled as shown at l8. By observing Figure '7, it will be seen that the rib I8 is of substantially the same Width as the block A that is,its outer vertical surface lies in substantially the same plane as the outer vertical surface of the block, and the underside of the rib lies in the same plane as the topof the block. Since the keeper member or block A is fastened to the frame l2 of the box, said member or block will, of course, rotate with the box.

The keeper member or block A is so positioned on the frame 12' that when said frame is moved to a position alining the boxv i 2 with the tramper or ram, said member or block is moved into alinement with a locking plunger assembly B, which assembly is mounted on the vertical channel member It! at the lower end thereof. The plunger assembly includes a housing or casing 20 which is formed with flanges 25 projecting outwardly therefrom. Bolts 22 pass through the flanges 2! and through the channel member iii to securely fasten the casing to said channel.

The lower end of the casing 28 is formed with a horizontally extending bore 23 and this bore extends from the inner end of the casing to a point near the outer end thereof. The bore is preferably square in cross-section and a plunger 24 is slidable therein. The channel ill to which the casing is secured is formed with an opening 25 having substantially the same shape as the bore 23, and this opening is in alinement with said bore, whereby the plunger 24 may move outwardly through this opening to project beyond the inner surface of the channel lil. The plunger 24 is of substantially the same shape as the recess It in the block A and said block is so positioned on the press box frame I2 that when the box is properly alined with the tramper (not shown), the recess i6 is alined with the plunger 24, whereby said plunger may engage said recess thereby locking the press box frame [2' ot the channel l0 (Figure 3). When the plunger 24 is retracted, as shown in Figure 4, it will be evident that the frame it and the box 12 may be rotated since said plunger is disengaged from the block A.

For controlling the movement of the plunger 24, a stem 26 extends through an opening 21 in the outer wall of the casing 29 and the inner end of this stem is threaded into the plunger, being located axially thereof. The inner end of the plunger is recessed to form an annular shoulder 28 which surrounds the bolt 25 and a coiled spring 29 is confined between this shoulder and the end wall of the bore 23. The spring surrounds the stem 26 and constantly exerts its pressure to urge the plunger Z-l outwardly of the bore and opening 25. Therefore, when the plunger 24 is moved inwardly of the bore it must move against the tension of the spring 29.

From the above, it will be seen that the spring 29 acts to move the plunger outwardly of the bore 23 and for retracting said plunger a bell crank 30 is pivoted on a pin 3!, which pin is supported in a bracket 32 preferably made integral with the casing 20. One arm 33 of the bell crank is formed with an opening 34 through which the outer end of the stem 26 extends. A washer 35 is confined on the extreme outer end of the stem 26 by nuts 35 and, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the washer abuts the arm 33 of the crank 30. By swinging the bell crank so that the arm 33 moves outwardly with relation to the casing 20, it will be manifest that a movement will be imparted to the stem 2% which will move the plunger inwardly of the bore 23 under tension of the coiled spring 29. By swinging the lever in the opposite direction, (Figure 3) so that the arm 33 engages the outer end of the casing 20, the coiled spring 29 is permitted to move the plunger 24 outwardly whereby its end projects through the opening 25 in the channel H] and into the path of the keeper block A.

For imparting movement to the bell crank 39, the other arm 31 of said crank has a vertically extending rod 38 pivotally connected thereto. The lower end of this rod has one end of a foot lever 39 surrounding the same, this end of said lever being confined on the lower end of said rod between nuts 40. The foot lever is pivoted at its central portion on a pin 4| which is secured to the lower end of the channel member Ill. Obviously when the outer end of the lever 38 is depressed, its inner end is raised which causes an upward movement of the rod 38 from the position shown in Figure 3. Upward movement of the rod 38 causes the crank arm 3'! to move upwardly swinging on the pivot pin 3!. This moves the arm 33 of the crank 36 outwardly from the casing 20 and the engagement of the arm 33 with the washer 35 imparts a movement to the stem 26 and plunger 24, whereby the latter is retracted or moved inwardly of the opening 25 and bore 23.

Assuming that the press box l2 and its frame l2 are locked in their proper position, the parts are in the position shown in Figure 3 with the end of the plunger 24 engaging within the recess N3 of the block A. When it is desired to move the frame I2 so as to impart a rotation to the boxes, the operator merely depresses the foot pedal or lever 39 which causes a swinging of the bell crank 39 to retract the end of the plunger 24 from within the recess It. The end of the plunger moves to the position shown in Figure 4, whereby rotation of the frame 12' and box I2 is possible. or lever 39 depressed until such time as the keep er block A moves out of alinement therewith, whereupon the pedal or lever 39 is released which immediately permits the plunger 24 to again move outwardly of the bore 23 through the opening 25 in the channel Ill. However, since the keeper member A has moved out of alinement With the plunger, no locking occurs upon the release of the lever 39.

A second keeper block (not shown) is, of course, provided on the opposite end of the frame !2 whereby when the frame completes one-half revolution, the second keeper member will move into alinement with the plunger 24. Since this other keeper member or block is exactly the same, it is not believed that its illustration is necessary. As the rotation of the frame i2 is completed, the block A again moves into alinement With the plunger and as it does so the bevelled portion I! of said block strikes the pro- The operator holds the pedal jecting end of 'the'plunger, whereby said plunger is moved inwardlywithin the bore 23 under tension of the spring 29. At this time the bell crank 30 remains in its same position. The retraction or inward movement of the plunger 24 permits the block to move to the position shown in Figure 5 and as soon as the recess IS in said block moves opposite said plunger, the coiled spring 29 again moves the plunger outwardly into engagement with said recess whereby the parts are again locked in position. They will remain in such position until the foot pedal or lever 39 is again depressed to retract said plunger. Therefore, it will be seen that the construction of the block A as well as that of such that an automatic latching occurs when the parts move into alinement with each other.

As before stated, the box l2 must be locked in a position in proper alinement'with the tramper (not shown) and also it is essential that the locking be complete before the tramper is operated. For this reason, it is desirable to provide means whereby the tramper cannot be operated until such time as the locking is complete and similarly, to provide means whereby the lock cannot be disengaged while the tramper is operated.

I To accomplish this purpose, the control shaft 7 42 of the tramper mechanism is connected through a suitable linkage with the latching or looking plunger 24, as will be explained.

'The tramper control shaft 42 has one end connected to and controlling the engagement of a shifter and brake assembly whereby the tramper is connected with a drive pulley'or other source of driving power. The outer end of the shaft 42 has a pulley or grooved wheel -43 fastened thereon and a rope or cable 44 engages in the groove and is fastened therein. The ends of the cable which depend downwardly from the pulley 43, as shown in Figure 1, are provided with suitable handles 45. By exerting a downward pull on one or the other of the handles 45, it will be evident that the pulley 43 and shaft 42 may be rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The shaft 42 is so connected with the shifter and brake assembly that its rotation controls the operation of the tramper, as will now be explained.

The shifter and brake assembly includes a driven pulley 42a. which is keyed onto the tramper drive shaft 430., said shaft operating the tramper in the usual manner. An idler pulley 44a is journaled on tatable thereon, and is of the same diameter as the pulley 42a. A drive belt 450. normally passes 7 over the idler pulley and around the drive pulley P, which latter is driven from any suitable source of power. In this position, the pulley 44a is rotated, but no rotation is imparted tothe tramper drive shaft 430., since said pulley is freely rotatable thereon. At this time, a brake shoe 4611 which is carried by an angular bracket 41a is engaging the driven pulley 42a to hold the same against rotation. The bracket is pivotally mounted at 41b on a suitable support 41c. Thebrake shoe is held in braking positionby a cam 48a which is contacting the outer end of the angular bracket 41a, as is clearly shown in Figure 9. The cam is mounted on a rotatable stub shaft 4911.

A horizontal rod or shaft Ella extends out .ly, when the shifter is the plunger 24 is the shaft 4311, being freely roshifter has upwardly projecting arms between which the drive belt 45a extends and, manifestmoved, the belt is shifted from the idler pulley 44a to the driven pulley 420.. When engagingthe pulley 42a, it will be obvious that rotation is imparted to the tramper shaft 43a. The shifter has connection through a rod 52a and arm 530 with the cam shaft 49a, whereby when the belt is moved onto the driven pulley 42a, the brake isreleased and when the belt is moved onto the idler the brake is applied.

For moving eration of the tramper, the clially extending arm 5411 which is connected by a link 55a with said shifter. Thus, when the shaft 42 is rotated by means of the cable or rope 44, the shifter is moved to shift the belt from one to the other of the pulleys 42a and 44a. This provides a clutching arrangement for operating and halting the tramper.

It is pointed out that the hereinabove' described belt shifter and brake assembly is well known to those skilled in the art and that applicant makes no claim to this structure per se, the same having been shown and described in order that the invention may be more readily understood. It is also noted that a belt shifter and brake assembly, having a very similar construction, is disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,585,385, issued to Guy P. Hawkins on May 18, 1926. p

The shaft 42 has an arm 46 (Figures 1 and 6) fastened thereon and the outer end of this arm is connected to the vertical arm 41 of a bell crank 48 by means of a link 49. The link is pivoted to both the arms 46 and 41. The bell crank 48 is journaled' on a transverse shaft 50 which is supported in an angle bar l0 which forms a part of the press box assembly frame. The horizontal arm St has its outer end pivoted to the upper end of a locking rod 52. The rod extendsd'ownwardly througha sleeve 53 which is suitably secured by brackets 54 to the outer surface of the channel I0. The lower end of the the shifter 5la to control the opshaft 42 has a ra- Irod 52 projects from the lower end of the sleeve 53 and is adapted to enter a vertical passage or opening 55 which is formed in the top of the casing 20. As is clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the opening 55 extends from the top of the easing downwardly to the bore 23, whereby said opening communicates with said bore.

' The top of the plunger 24 is provided with a recess 56 which is adapted to register with the lower end of the vertical opening or passage 55 when said plunger is in its extended or looking position. Therefore, when said plunger is extended and the rod 52 moves downwardly through the passage 55, the extreme lower end of said "rod-may enter the recess 56, whereby movement be retracted. When the wheel 43 and shaft 42- are rotated to shift the belt 45a onto the idler pulley 44a to halt the operation of the tramper, the rod 52 is raised, whereby its lower end is retracted from the recess 56 to permit the plunger 24 to be retracted by means of the crank 30 and 'foot pedal 39. Therefore, it will be'seen that while the tramper is operating, the locking plunger 24 cannot be disengaged from the keeper block A and the box i2 is securely locked in position in proper alinement with said tramper.

After the rod 52 has been raised, and the looking plunger 24 disengaged from the block A, and while the boxes are being rotated, some means must be provided to prevent rotation of the wheel 43 so as to prevent operation of the tramper while the frame l2 and box l2 are moving from one position to another. To prevent this rotation of the wheel 43, a spring pressed pin 57 is mounted within a horizontally extending bore 53 which is formed within the casing 28 above the bore 23. The bore 58 is provided with an enlarged portion 59 which is closed by a suitable plug (ill. The provision of the enlarged portion of the bore provides an internal shoulder 65 therein and the pin 51 is formed with a head adapted to engage said shoulder. A coiled spring 53 is confined between the plug 60 and head 5'? and constantly urges the pin 5'! outwardly of the bore 58.

The channel member ii) is formed with an opening 64 which is in alinement with [the outer end of the bore 58 so as to permit the outer end of the pin 5'! to extend therethrough. The pin 51 is normally in the extended position shown in Figure 4 and is spaced from the plunger 24 so that when said plunger is engaging in the recess it of the keeper member A, the rib or lug 18 of the block A is engaging the outer end of the pin. Therefore, when the frame 12 is locked to the channel H) by the plunger 24, the rib I8 is in engagement With the pin 5'! and has moved the same into its retracted position under tension of the spring 63, as clearly shown in Figure 3. At this time a transverse opening 65 which is provided in the pin 57 is alined with the passage 55, whereby the plunger 52 which moves downwardly through the passage, may pass through the opening 65 and engage the recess 56 within the plunger 24. However, when the keeper-member A is disengaged from the plunger 24 and moves out of alinement therewith, the spring 63 immediately slides the pin 51 outwardly of its bore, whereby the opening 65 in said pin is moved out of alinement with the passage 55. So long as the pin remains in this position, the rod 52 cannot be moved downwardly and since it is directly connected to the wheel 43 through the linkage shown in Figure 6, it will be evident that said wheel cannot be rotated to operate the tramper. Therefore, the tramper cannot beoperated until such time as the keeper member or block A again moves into alinement with the plunger 24, at which time the rib I8 engages the outer end of the pin 51 to move the same inwardly so as to aline the opening 65 with the vertical passage or opening 55. When this is done, the rod 52 may move downwardly through the openings 55 and 65 and engage the recess 55 to lock the plunger 24 in position within the recess it of [the member A.

With the above arrangement, it will be manifest that as the keeper member moves opposite the plunger 24, it is automatically locked thereto since the plunger engages its recess I6. At the same time, the pin 51 is moved inwardly of its bore to the position shown in Figure 3. The frame l2 and the box l2 are thus locked in position in alinement with the tramper (not shown). The pulley 43 is then rotated by means of the cable M to start the operation of the tramper. At the same time, the rod 52 actuated. by the wheel 43 moves downwardly to engage the recess 56 in the locking plunger 24. Therefore, so long as the tramper is operating it is impossible to retract the plunger 24 and therefore the box [2 remains in its locked position until such time as the tramper is stopped through the reverse rotation of the wheel 43.

Such reverse rotation of the wheel retracts the rod 52 from the recess 55 and the opening 65. The foot lever or pedal 39 is actuated to retract the plunger 24 whereby the frame l2 may be rotated. As the keeper member or block A moves out of alinement with the plunger 24, the rib l8 disengages the pin 5! to permit it to move to the position shown in Figure 4. Such movement of the pin 51 causes the opening therein to move out of alinement with the vertical passage 55 and the pin 51 remains in this position until such time as it is reengaged by the rib l8 of the keeper member or block A. While the pin is in this position, it will be evident that the rod 52 cannot move downwardly through the passage 55 beyond the pin 51. Therefore, the wheel 43 cannot be rotated suificiently to operate the tramper (not shown), while the boxes l2 are being rotated. Of course, as soon as the keeper member is again engaged by the locking plunger 24, its rib forces the pin 51 inwardly which again alines the opening 65 with the passage 55 to permit downward movement of the rod 52 and a resultant operation of the tramper.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A locking mechanism for a press box having a tramper movable therein including, a keeper mounted on the box, a stationary latching assembly having a plunger adapted to engage said keeper to lock the box in a fixed position in alinement with the tramper, and means free from connection with the plunger and operable by the tramper actuating means for engaging the plunger to prevent disengagement of said plunger from the keeper while the tramper is operating.

2. A locking mechanism for a press box having a tramper movable therein including, a keeper mounted on the box, a stationary latching assembly having a plunger adapted to engage said keeper to lock the box in a fixed position in alinement with the tramper, means free from connection with the plunger and operable by the tramper actuating means for engaging the plunger to prevent disengagement of said plunger from the keeper while the tramper is operating, and means for preventing operation of the tramper actuating means when the locking plunger is not engaging the keeper.

3. A locking mechanism for a rotatable press box having a tramper movable therein including, a keeper mounted on one side of the press box, a stationary latching assembly having a horizontally movable spring pressed locking plunger adapted to engage said keeper to lock the box in a fixed position in alinement with the tramper, means for retracting said plunger from said keeper to permit rotation of the box, and a foot lever for actuating said retracting means.

4. A locking mechanism for a rotatable press box having a tramper movable therein including,

a keeper mounted on the press box, a stationary latching assembly having a spring pressed looking plunger adapted to engage said keeper to lock the box in a fixed position in alinement with the tramper, means for retracting said plunger from said keeper to permit rotation of the box, manually operable means for actuating the tramper, and means for preventing operation of said manually operated means when the plunger is out of engagement with the keeper.

5. A locking mechanism for a rotatable press box having a tramper movable therein including, a keeper mounted on the press box, a stationary latching assembly having a spring pressed locking plunger adapted to engage said keeper to lock the box in a fixed position in alinement with the tramper, means for retracting said plunger from said keeper to permit rotation of the box, manually operable the tramper, and means actuated by the last named means adapted to engage the plunger when the same is in engagement with the keeper to prevent retraction of said plunger while the tramper is operating.

6. A locking mechanism for a rotatable press box having a tramper movable therein including, a keeper mounted on the press box, a stationary latching assembly having a spring pressed locking plunger adapted to engage said keeper to lock the box in a fixed position in alinement with the tramper, means for retracting said plunger from said keeper to permit rotation of the box, manually operable means for actuating the tramper, means actuated by the last named means adapted to engage the plunger when the same is in engagement with the keeper to prevent retraction of said plunger while the tramper is operating, and means for preventing operation of the tramper actuating means when the locking plunger is disengaged from the keeper.

7. A locking mechanism for a rotatable press box having a tramper movable therein including, a keeper mounted on the press box, a stationary latching assembly having a spring pressed locking plunger adapted to engage lock the box in a fixedposition in alinement with the tramper, means for retracting said plunger from said keeper to permit rotation of the box, a foot lever for actuating said retracting means, manually operable means for controlling the actuation of the tramper, and a looking rod operated by said control means and arranged to lock the plunger against retraction when said plunger is engaging the keeper and while said tramper is operated.

8. A locking mechanism for a rotatable press box having a tramper movable therein including,

a keeper mounted on the press box, a stationary latching assembly having a spring pressed locking plunger adapted to engage said keeper to lock the box in a fixed position in alinement with the tramper, means for retracting said plunger from said keeper to permit rotation of the box, a foot lever for actuating said retracting means, manually operable means for controlling the actuation of the tramper, a locking rod operated by means for actuating said keeper to said control means and arranged to lock the plunger against retraction when said plunger is engaging the keeper and while said tramper is operated, and spring pressed means for preventing the rod from engaging the locking plunger when the plunger is not in engagement with the keeper while the press box is rotating, said means being actuated by the keeper when the same moves into alinement with the plunger.

9. A locking mechanism for a rotatable press box having a tramper movable therein including,

a keeper mounted on the press box and having a recess therein, a stationary latching assembly having a spring pressed locking plunger adapted to engage within the recess of the keeper to lock the box in alinement with the tramper, means for retracting the plunger from the recess, a foot lever for actuating the retracting means, means for actuating the tramper to cause its movement within the box, a locking rod actuated by the tramper actuating means and adapted to engage the locking plunger when the same is within the recess of the keeper, whereby the plunger cannotbe retracted while the tramper is operating, and spring pressed means adapted to be actuated by the keeper for preventing the movement of the rod into engagement with the plunger when said plunger is disengaged from the keeper.

10. A locking mechanism for a rotatable press box having a tramper movable therein including, a keeper mounted on the press box and having a recess therein, a stationary latching assembly having a spring pressed locking plunger adapted to engage within the recess of the keeper to lock the box in alinement with'the tramper, means for retracting the plunger from the recess, a foot lever for actuating the retracting means, means for actuating the tramper to cause its move-. ment within the box, a locking rod actuated by thev tramper actuating means and adapted to engage the locking plunger when the same is within the recess of the keeper, whereby the plunger cannot be retracted while the tramper is operating, and a spring pressed pin above the plunger located in the path of the keeper and adapted to be depressed thereby when the plunger is engaged within the recess of the keeper, said pin having an opening therein which is alined with the locking rod when depressed, whereby the rod may pass therethrough to engage the plunger, said opening being moved out of alinement with said rod when the rod disengages the plunger and the keeper'and plunger are disengaged, whereby re-engagement of the rod. and plunger cannot occur until the keeper and plunger are re-engaged and said keeper again depresses the pin.

JOHN BLEWETT. 

